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Tuesday, October 21, 2003
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The pledge of allegiance case will be heard by the US Supreme Court. While the rest of the nation is likely rolling its eyes and muttering something unkind about the Ninth Circuit, I would like to note two rather pedestrian reasons in favor of striking the words "under God" from the pledge. First, cadence and rhythm. The phrase "under God" was added to the original Godless pledge only in 1943 (no atheists in foxholes). The original pledge had a nice, measured 4-2-4 beat to it, rather like poetry; try saying it out loud without the offending phrase, counting out the beats like it's a song (or maybe a pledge rap). If we must keep "under God," we should at least maintain the cadence by instead dropping the phrase "indivisible."
Which brings me to the second reason. Recital of the pledge is meant to be a uniting civic ritual. If we want the nation to be "indivisible," it makes little sense to include a phrase that creates division. We count many unbelievers among our list of patriots; why cast aspersions on their patriotism by incorporating a religious reference in our national chant? Religion already flourishes in America; it doesn't need a plug in the pledge to continue to do so.
2:57:26 AM 
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Help Thou Mine Unbelief, by President James E. Faust, was one of the more interesting of the recent General Conference talks. The talk was directed to Mormons "who have personal struggles and doubts" about their faith, and counseled that faithful prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, and pondering the statements made by early Mormon leaders will, sooner or later, erase doubt. This prescription, of course, provides little guidance to those whose doubts have come precisely via a prayerful reading of Mormon scriptures and LDS history. But it's still nice to read a talk that recognizes doubt as something other than a synonym for sin, apostasy, or demonic possession.
2:29:46 AM
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© Copyright 2004 Dave's Mormon Inquiry Weblog.
Last update: 3/2/2004; 11:59:35 PM.
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